News From Special Correspondent
Dajiworld Media Network—Panaji (CN)
Panaji, Oct 16: The Goa police have said that state education minister Atanasio Monserratte should produce his son before them, if he claims his innocence. ‘If Monserratte feels that his son is innocent, then he should bring him to the police,’ said Bosco George, superintendent of police (SP).
He was talking to reporters at police headquarters on Wednesday October 15. ‘We have given reasonable time to the father (minister) and we hope that he will produce his son before the police,’ said the SP. Monserratte, who met chief minister Digamber Kamat last night had said that he was being framed by the police and proclaimed his son’s innocence.
The state police had booked Rohit for raping, outraging the modesty, abetting crime, and sending lewd text messages to a 14-year-old minor German girl. ‘We have not been able to arrest Rohit despite searches of both bungalows. The search is on,’ added George.
The police, despite repeated queries, did not divulge the steps taken to track down Rohit. On asked whether Rohit has been declared missing or absconding, George said that everything is being looked into. ‘It won't be a problem if he leaves the state. It will be a concern if he leaves the country,’ added George.
The police are also finding it difficult to get the minor girl to depose before the team. ‘A team consisting of an NGO representative, a lady police officer, and a psychiatrist, has approached the girl and is convincing her. The mother is very supportive,’ said Kishan Kumar, inspector general of police (IGP).
The IGP said that since the matter is sensitive, it is being handled with utmost care. The police are yet to get the girl medically-examined, which is crucial to the investigation. Kumar said that the police took time to act on the mother’s complaint as her initial letter accusing Rohit was very vague.